The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies
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THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL STUDIES ISSN 2321 - 9203 www.theijhss.com THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL STUDIES Investigating Infrastructure Provisions and Adequacy in Imeko Afon Town, Ogun State, Nigeria Adejugbagbe, John Adewale Lecturer, Department of Architectural Technology The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Nigeria Abstract: The value of infrastructure in our society cannot be over emphasised. The importance of infrastructure is essential for further development, it serves as a determinant factor in both economic and physical development in both towns and cities in Nigeria. Infrastructure includes both hard and soft but all are needed for cities functionalities. But the inadequacy in Nigeria causes bottleneck in areas of social, economic and physical/environment. Therefore, the study aims at investigating infrastructure provisions and adequacy in Imeko Afon Town, Ogun State, Nigeria; with the objectives of assessing the existing types of infrastructure, providers, conditions and the challenges the residents are facing in relation to accessibility. The study makes use of primary data through questionnaire distribution to the head of households and both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for the purpose of the study. The study revealed that majority of infrastructure under consideration were inadequate due to insufficient provision and the available ones lack maintenance. The results led to the degeneration of the core areas in Imeko-Afon. The study had shown that infrastructure plays significant roles in increasing hygiene, reduced diseases and development of economy. All these promote physical expansion through the influx of people to the study area. Also, from the results of findings, infrastructure provision involves huge amount of money, this makes it difficult for individuals or association to embark on it. Therefore, the policy makers need to address the issues pointed out by providing adequate and sufficient infrastructure to promote socio-economic activities majorly interconnectivity between the imeko-Afon town and neighbouring towns, including villages for adequate movement of farm products to nearest market to increase their standard of living. Keywords: Housing, Infrastructure, Urbanisation, Socio-economic and imeko-Afon 1. Introduction Infrastructure is one of the major contributors to economic development and healthy environment. The importance can not be overemphasized. Urbanization and modernization globally have its evolution form adequate and sufficient infrastructure development. In developing countries, infrastructure is designed not to increase standard of living, rather for political point. Babatunde (2018) described government fund on infrastructure as waste of fund on citizen because there is no evidence on public infrastructure with the state of country economy. The challenges of infrastructure development are the factors affecting the provision for decades and the gap cuts across all facet of economy and the environment which are glaring in every types of infrastructure. Meanwhile, infrastructure is the backbone of every human settlement, but reverse is the case in developing countries, to be specific; Nigeria. The less privileged suffers the inadequacies. The various efforts and benefits of infrastructure are well known but there are some challenges facing the provision in relation to time and finance (Diugwu, 2015). The availability of basic information for human settlement is insufficient or not available. This makes it difficult to examine and justify the areas in need. Infrastructure development is part of the yardstick in measuring performance of policy makers and basis for good governance (Oyedele, 2012). Therefore, the study Investigates infrastructure provisions and adequacy in Imeko Afon Town, Ogun State, in view of providing sustainable solutions and recommendations to the policy makers in the state. 2. Literature Review Babatunde (2018) concluded that government funding communication and transportation, health and education have significant effects on increase of economic activities and expansion in Nigeria. Diugwu (2015) observed in a review of infrastructure projects and identified that project failure and non-adherence to management principles caused the failure in developing countries. Settlements in developing countries are suffering from infrastructure inadequacies than developed ones. This results into environmental deterioration that causes various health challenges. Scheider and Jagar (2001) observed that the basic function performed by infrastructure promotes economic activities and job security. Oyedele (2012) examined the challenges of infrastructure development in democratic nation. It was concluded that the demand supersedes the supply, this creates a wide gap between the availability and needs and also pointed out that the political atmosphere does not give room for foreign investors. 258 Vol 8 Issue 1 DOI No.: 10.24940/theijhss/2020/v8/i1/HS2001-036 January, 2020 THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL STUDIES ISSN 2321 - 9203 www.theijhss.com Gbadebo and Olalusi (2014) pointed out that the factors affecting infrastructure development recently are many. The outcome revealed that economic, political, social, legal, technology contributed to infrastructure challenges in Nigeria. Akoteyon (2019) described water supply as part of major infrastructure in Lagos state is inadequate despite various government efforts in all tiers and different international organization responsible for provision. The shortage of water in some parts of Lagos will results into water borne diseases and shortage of fund by residents also contributed towards low water provision. Ogunsanya, Fanu and Oladipo (2016) assessed the adequacy of public housing infrastructure with the aim of improving the quality of life and sound environment. Notwithstanding, the results also revealed that rural neglection contributed to the high population of urban areas that have negative impact on residential areas in cities. Odunjo, Okanlawon, Oladimeji and Moyo (2018) investigated the relationship between housing development and availability of infrastructure and its performance which is very inadequate and suggested that policy makers should provide necessary facilities to the study area to improve both the environment and the inhabitants. Fakeye and Ayoola (2018) examined the factors predicting the level of human participation in provision of adequate infrastructure. It was discovered that socio-economic factors, self-help strategy is majorly in use because government neglect their responsibilities which is the major reason why individuals provide infrastructure for themselves. Babatunde (2018) observed that government should spend on infrastructure to improve economy. Ihuah., Ekenta & Nwokorie (2014) and Nwosu (2015) observed the impact of infrastructure on rental value, the effect of urban infrastructure as a tool for enhancing the values of residential property in Akure was carried out to access the relationship. Gaal and Afrah (2017) observed that lack of infrastructure promotes unemployment which resulted into low standard of living. Oyeneyin (2018) used multistage sampling method to examine the disadvantages of transport facilities in rural border settlement in Imeko-Afon local government area of Ogun state. The study revealed that majority of roads in the area were bad and not motorable during the raining seasons. This gives setback to regular transportation of farm products to the nearest market. The situation has affected landscape of the area according to the research because it creates alternative passage. 3. Study Area Imeko, a town in Imeko Afon Local Government Area, in the west of Ogun State Nigeria sharing boundary with republic of Benin. Presently, it is being referred to as a pilgrimage city, due to the annual convention of Celestial Church of Christ (CCC). The town is situated on a splendid plateau about twelve kilometres from the Nigeria-Benin Border and roughly sixty kilometres to Abeokuta, capital of Ogun state. Imeko has an estimate population of 50,000 inhabitants, it ranks as the largest and historically the most significant Ketu-Yoruba traditional city in Nigeria. Its predominately peasant population occupies an ever-increasing built-up area of over one thousand and five hectares of land. Farming is the major economic activity in Imeko-Afon with crops such as Cassava, Tomato, Cotton, Cocoa, Cashew, Yam and Maize grown in the area. Other important economic activities in Imeko-Afon include hunting, textile weaving, and wood work. Moreover, the major religions that are predominant in the study area are Christianity, Islam and traditional religion. 4. Research Method The research focused on the infrastructure provision in Imeko-Afon town. The study majorly used primary data. The source of the data was obtained through questionnaire distribution to the head of the households. Both descriptive and inferential statistics was employed for the purpose of the study. Systematic random sampling technique was employed where every 10 houses were selected from the beginning of every street. A total number of 98 questionnaires were recovered out of 106 copies distributed. This indicated that 93% of the total questionnaires were returned. 5. Results Analysis and Interpretations The degree of agreement to variables used to examine the infrastructural facilities available in the core area of Imeko-Afon, to determine the living condition of the